John Kimbrell is a Certified Chamber Executive and currently serves as Chief Business Affairs Officer for OneSpartanburg, Inc. (Spartanburg County’s consolidated economic, tourism and business development organization) He came to Spartanburg from a similar role at the Greenville SC Chamber. A 26 year veteran in the Chamber industry, Kimbrell started his career in his hometown Chamber of Anderson SC as a project coordinator. Over his 6.5 year stint he rose to the position of Vice President, overseeing all Chamber programming and non-dues revenue. In 2004, Kimbrell was named President/CEO of the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce. During 5.5 year tenure in Greer the membership base grew 35% and total income increased by 76%.
Membership escalated from 425 members in 2004 to over 600 in 2009. In 2007, the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce was awarded accreditation with 5-star distinction by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, Kimbrell was named as President/CEO of the Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce in Gastonia, NC. During his tenure, Kimbrell was instrumental in Chamber debt reduction, membership growth, and economic development planning.
John Kimbrell graduated from Clemson University in 1996 and obtained his Master’s Degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 1997. John is also a graduate of the United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and a graduate of Leadership Anderson, Leadership Greer, and the Diversity Leadership Institute.
John is married to Renee Moore Kimbrell and they have one 20 year old son, Conner Anderson Kimbrell.